Satin Solitude Imperial Stout

Review Date 11/13/2025 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Imperial Stout   Brewery: Central Waters   Country: USA   State: Wisconsin   $ Per OZ: $.12 (B)   ABV: 7.7%

Flash back to June of 2024, and there I was drinking a Central Water Satin Solitude Imperial Stout. It had me thinking of the Perter Cetera song, “Solitude, Solitaire” by Peter Cetera, from the album of the same name. As I sat there at my desk, drinking the beer in solitude, of course that song came to mind. Of course it did.

Anyway, this was the first time I had ever tried the beer, and I really enjoyed it. I have enjoyed every beer I’ve ever tasted from Central Waters, so this should come as no surprise. I took the following notes:

Central Waters Satin Solitude Imperial Stout pours to a jet-black color with a medium sized head of creamy tan foam and a nose of intense roast and licorice. Taking a sip the beer is medium to full in body, rich and roasty, with an intense roast character. It’s big on licorice and finishes dry roasty and warming with alcohol.

I rated it as 4.5 stars on a 5-star scale, not bad folks. That sample was canned on 05/18/23 per the bottom of the can.

Then I got more not long ago. Oddly enough, the can I am currently drinking is stamped CANNED ON 06/22/23, so not long after the can I drank a year and a few months ago. I only got it a few months ago from Half Time.

Central Waters says on their website:

A liplickingly creamy stout prized for its drinkability, Satin Solitude is crafted with a mix of specialty malts, from caramel and chocolate to roasted barley, to achieve its deep dark appearance and satin-smooth finish. Best enjoyed by a crackling fire on long winter's night.

They list there the following ingredients:

Hop Varieties: Northern Brewer, Willamette

Malts: Caramel, Chocolate, Roasted Barley

Central Waters Satin Solitude Imperial Stout has an alcohol content of 7.7% by volume with 53 IBUs. They offer this year-round. I paid $2.99 each fpr my cans from Half Time, a bargain indeed, and it’s even more of a steal at Total Wine in Greenfield, Wisconsin, where they sell it for just $8.29 a six-pack. That’s almost unheard of these days, especially for an imperial stout.

My latest can of Central Waters Satin Solitude Imperial Stout pours to a dark black (but not opaque) color, as light did pass through as I held up my glass to a lamp. The head is moderate in size, and the nose smacks of delicious licorice. Taking a sip, the beer is medium to slightly more in body; I wanted a little more of that. The licorice really pops here, though, and I love every bit of that. There are roasty notes and a little dark chocolate, then more licorice and roast in the dry bitter finish.

I love licorice in an imperial stout, and that character is insane here. A little more body and this would be perfect, I rate it 4 out of 5 on its own merits, but I will tack on a half star for the ridiculously low price.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??